The report highlights the state of the sector in different countries. Introduction of emissions reduction target by countries including China, UK, Denmark, Germany, and Russia under their climate action plans will complement the business outlook, the report states.

Denmark, for example, in its National Energy Policy and National Energy Efficiency Action Plan (NEEAP) has setup a target to completely phase out the usage of oil from heating applications across the building structure by 2035.

Growing industrialization and urbanization with introduction of building standards code towards energy efficiency will foster the district heating market.

As per the World Bank, in 2014 over 54% of the world’s population have shifted their base from rural to urban areas and the proportion is anticipated to rise to 66 per cent by 2050, making heat networks more and more relevant.

German district heating market size is set to exceed 300 PJ by 2024. Growing investment toward replacement of conventional heat and electricity generating systems with sustainable technologies including CHP and solar thermal will stimulate the business landscape. Regulators are planning to increase CHP electricity generation share from 18% in 2013 to 25% by 2020 through the introduction of incentives on adoption of these technologies.

Adoption of clean energy over fossil fuels and flexibility to choose heat source is also set to stimulate solar district heating market growth. In 2017, Finland based Savo-Solar announced the development of new 300 MW solar thermal heating system with a view to deliver surplus energy across the DH networks catering to Hämeenlinna city.